Friends of Santa Paula aviary to discuss restoring it

Joanna Duncan of Santa Paula feeds bread to blue crowned conures with her son Nathan, 11, and neighbor Gabriel Paz, 8, at the Steckel Park aviary.

Saving Santa Paula's bird sanctuary has become something of a mission for Charles Law and other lovers of the feathered creatures.

"This is a landmark that absolutely must be maintained," Law said Monday, two days before he and others are set to meet with Ventura County officials to discuss ways to save the cherished Steckel Park Aviary near Santa Paula.

Wednesday's meeting will be at 7 p.m. at the Santa Paula Community Center, 530 West Main St.

Ventura County officials announced last summer they planned to demolish the old sanctuary, saying maintaining it had become too expensive and that some of the inhabitants of the aviary were sick for lack of adequate care.

Officials estimated last year it costs about $11,000 annually to care and feed the cockatiels, parrots and other birds at county-owned park. They estimated repairing the old aviary would cost an additional $150,000.

When Law and other Santa Paula residents heard of the county's plans, they banded together, determined to do all they could to save the concrete and mesh shelter, which is shaded by trees and partially covered with a tin roof.

Among the things yet to be determined is how much of the aviary needs to be replaced.

Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long, whose district includes Santa Paula, said the roof and fencing need replacement.

The 100 or so birds at the facility will have to be rehoused during a restoration, she added.

Those who want to save the aviary are gathering donations to pay for the restoration, said Santa Paula City Councilman Ralph Fernandez, one of those working to salvage the facility.

"Our hope is that more people will come forward to help," Fernandez said. "It's one of those lost treasures that people take for granted."

While Long is happy that area residents are stepping forward to fix up the aviary, she said it also would be good if a "group were formed to take care of the day-to-day maintenance of the aviary."

Fernandez said the aviary is part of a countywide park system.

"It's not something that the city of Santa Paula can take on," he said.

Whether volunteers can be found to run the facility daily remains to be seen.

Those wanting to donate money for restoration may write a check to the Santa Paula Community Fund, 1354 Mariposa Drive, Santa Paula, CA 93060.